Efficiency could be improved up to 55% with a CCGT system

In a combined cycle gas turbine station (CCGT) gas is burnt in gas turbines to drive alternators and the hot exhaust gas is used to raise steam to drive a turbo alternator.

Examples are a 600 MW station at Baja Mexico, 530 MW Irsching in Bavaria where 60% efficiency is projected, and 550 MW station at Baglan Bay, Wales which also includes district heating so overall efficiency could rise towards 85% in the latter case.

CCGT generating station

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technical column

Note on Units.
'MW' (megawatts) is a convenient size to use for unit of power from electrical generators. One MW is one million watts or a thousand kW (kilowatts).
Size of generator could be 660 MW.
Total capacity of electrical generators in the UK could be 75,000 MW. (75GW)
Generating capacity of all units at Three Gorges Dam in China is 18,000 MW.(18GW)
Wind turbine sizes are growing and could be 1 MW, 3 MW, 5 MW and in future 10 MW..
Note 1 GW (Gigawatt) = 1000 MW = 1,000,000 kW
1 TW (Terrawatt) = 1000 GW =; 1000,000 MW = 1000,000,000 kW
1 petawatt = 1,000 TW = 1,000,000,000,000 kW.